Major traffic warning ahead of British Grand Prix

Silverstone

Published:13:29Tuesday 05 July 2016

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Motorists using the M1 and the A43 in the East Midlands and the M40 around Oxfordshire, are being advised to plan ahead and allow extra time for their journeys ahead of this week’s British Grand Prix at Silverstone.

Some 330,000 people are expected to attend the 10th round of this year’s Formula 1 Championship, between Thursday and Sunday’s race day.

Silverstone traffic warning

Highways England’s East Midlands Emergency Planning Officer Sandie Higginbotham said: “We do all we can to alleviate congestion and keep the traffic flowing but we’d like to remind drivers that obviously it will be busier than usual in the Silverstone area.

“We work with our emergency service colleagues and the event organisers to ensure those heading for the Grand Prix get there with minimum disruption or delay.

“Our aim is to keep the Highways England network running whilst keeping Grand Prix goers and other road users safe and informed. Our advice is to check our traffic and travel information channels, set off early and allow plenty of time when journey planning.”

On 8, 9 and 10 July, the A43 will be closed to through traffic between Brackley and Towcester. The road is planned to be closed from 5am until 9pm each day but this one-way system into Silverstone is intended to be dynamically managed to cater for demand. Non-race traffic is advised to avoid the area if at all possible.

Road users heading for the Grand Prix will be directed along one-way systems, and this system will be reversed as traffic leaves the event.

Highways England will use its electronic message signs on approaching motorways to give drivers information about any diversions and delays, and provide up-to-the minute traffic information via local radio and www.highways.gov.uk/traffic-information